Not the Ming Dynasty Yet!

Ming Tsai was not quite able to transfer his award winning chef’s talents to the doubles court this year, but he came darn close. After losing the first two games of the final to Sandy Tierney & Pat Malloy, Ming and partner Preston Quick clawed their way back, winning the next two at 9, primarily from Ming’s reverse corners off the backhand side. In the fifth, the continual hammering finally wore Ming down as Sandy & Pat won their first State A title, particularly gratifying after Sandy was forced to withdraw last year with injuries.

The A final was but one of many exciting matches on finals night, May 7, held in conjunction with the MSRA’s annual meeting at the University Club. The evening was the culmination of the 2007 edition of the State Doubles, run over two months and including 145 players in eight divisions.

Tierney & Malloy didn’t have a cake walk to the finals either. In the semis, they ran into second-seeded University Club pros Chris Spahr & Nadeem Osman who many thought were the tournament favorites. Leading 2-1 in games, Tierney & Malloy led 14-10 in the fourth, only to lose five points in a row. They took the fifth, avoiding Nadeem who hit the ball so hard Sandy was hit twice with balls headed for the back wall. In the upper half, Preston & Ming dispatched Tom Poor & Dan Sharplin in four, then handled Tyler Hill & Glenn Prichett who had delivered this year’s shocker in the quarters with a five game victory over top seeded and five time state champions, Doug Lifford & Jamie Fagan. Jamie claims to have "hit bottom" and is now in full time training for next season.

Another disappointed player was Mike McKee, winner last year of the C division with Neil Paterson, but losers in the quarters this year to Jon Hartnett & John Hailer when Neil pulled up lame after winning the first two games. Never ones to let opportunities slip, Hartnett & Hailer went on to a four game conquest of Steve Neumeier & Ken Swan in the semis and a victory in the finals over Pepper Riley & Tucker Jones. The latter pair had eliminated second seeded Curt Lefebvre & Dean Williams in five in the quarters, then eased by Ben Bailey & Dick Whitney in three. Interestingly enough, but often the case in the C’s, not one seeded team made it beyond the quarterfinal round.

However, all was not lost for Mike since he happens to be married to perhaps the best women’s player in the state, Mary McKee. She more than carried the family banner by first winning the Womens with Robin Silver Grace, coaxed out of retirement when Mary’s sister Lee was forced to withdraw with a hip injury. They won in five over the Hopes Crosier & Prockop in the finals after a close semifinal encounter with rising stars Margaret Elias & Liz Steffey. Margaret has moved to our area from Philadelphia, a hotbed of doubles activity, and Liz has acquired plenty of doubles savvy from her companion, Preston Quick, one of the top ranked professionals.

Mary was not finished. Later in the evening she returned to the court with partner Doug Lifford to meet Hope Crosier & Chris Spahr in the Mixed final. Although Mary & Doug had won this title twice before (2002 & 2003), they had lost the last two years to Mary’s two sisters, Berkeley and Lee. With no sisters in sight this year, they stumbled the first game in overtime but won the next three. Chris & Hope had pulled out a five game semi over the aforementioned Margaret Elias & Dave Adams, a portent of perhaps another new wave. In the other semi, Steffey & Quick lost in three after winning a five game quarterfinal matchup with Jenny Holleran & Scott Poirier. Jenny’s sister Lauren & Brian McGrory also lost in five to Steffey-Quick the round before. The Hollerans are the younger sisters of many time national champion Demer, now the owner and director of the new Fairmount Athletic Club outside Philadelphia.

While Chris and Nadeem were otherwise occupied, the third University Club pro, Greg Vernick was having his own problems. Entered in the B with Joe Cortes and unseeded, they were one of 25 teams in a draw notable for the high caliber of eligible teams but as notorious as the C’s for failed seedings. Witness Hill & Prichett, instant stars after their Lifford-Fagan victory in the A’s, gone in the quarters. John Frantzis & Jeff Rodman (seeded 3); gone in the quarters. Jon Hyett & Adam Simms (2); gone in the quarters. Rob Dewees & John Palfrey (1) and former champions, didn’t even get out of their first round. Amidst this wreckage, Greg & Joe inched along with a five game conquest of John Brazilian & Brian McGrory, a close win over Hyett-Simms, and a tense semi-final decision over Gerry Kirschner & Scott Beebe. The lone remaining seed (4), Andrew Matuch & Len Zide awaited them in the finals. After winning the first two games, Greg’s forehand began to find the tin, and Andrew’s strength forced more errors. Finally, the fifth game produced the elimination of the last remaining seed at 11.

While the younger players were relying on speed and strength, the veterans could only remember those days while turning to guile and strategy. Nowhere were those traits more in evidence than in the 50’s. Tom Poor & Lenny Bernheimer, holders of many national titles, but now well into their 60’s, turned back the clock one more time by defeating Mark Panarese & Court Chilton (relative babes as newly turned 50’s) in the quarters, then a very close encounter with defending champions Mac Davidson & Jon Ross in the semis, and finally a four game victory over 2004 champions Sandy Tierney & John Connolly.

And then to prove that a man’s grasp can exceed his age, 65-year old Lenny took the court again with partner John Brazilian in the 60’s. They faced last year’s finalists, Ed Serues & Fran Donlan, demolishers of Poor & Pete Laird in the semis. After a shaky start in losing the first game, John righted himself, leading his partner to a four game victory. Thus concluded Lenny’s five tournament matches in the space of approximately 48 hours following his return from his winter home in Florida.

If there was youth and speed on the one hand, and age and guile on the other, the combination of the two was the essence of the Parent/Child tournament. Daughters were the strength of several teams ÐCece Cortes & Joe, Alli Rubin & Gary, Serena Fagan & Jamie. Young sons carried the day, however, as Barrett Takesian led dad Tom into the finals over top seeded Bruce & Dave Shulman, and Matthew & Joel Kozol advanced over second-seeded Peter & Pete Laird. The lawyers Kozol won the final in four, holding down for this year at least, the prowess of the younger Takesian.

So, the winners can crow for the summer while the losers lick their wounds and the injured heal theirs. More excitement is in store as the Union Boat Club lays plans for a new doubles court, sure to bring in a new influx of players and making Boston a suitable venue for a major tournament with four courts in the city. This development, the large number of players in the States, and the emergence of younger players bode well for the future of the doubles game in Boston.

Finals Photo Gallery

State A Doubles
Champions: Pat Malloy & Sandy Tierney / Finalists: Preston Quick & Ming Tsai

State B Doubles
Finalists: Andrew Matuch & Len Zide / Champions: Greg Vernick & Joe Cortez

State C Doubles
Champions: John Hailer & Jon Hartnett / Finalists: Pepper Riley & Tucker Jones

State Women’s Doubles
Champions: Mary McKee & Robin Silver Grace / Finalists: Hope Prockop & Hope Crosier

State Mixed Doubles
Champions: Doug Lifford & Mary McKee / Finalists: Hope Crosier & Chris Spahr

State 50+ Doubles
Finalists: John Connolly & Sandy Tierney / Champions: Lenny Bernheimer & Tom Poor

State 60+ Doubles
Finalists: Ed Serues & Fran Donlan / Champions: Lenny Bernheimer & John Brrazilian

State Parent-Child Doubles
Champions: Joel & Matthew Kozol / Finalists: Barrett & Tom Takesian